Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou Preview: Betting Tips and Odds

Is it worth betting on Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou when one of them is a legend and the other is a novice? Let’s find out. This boxing event is set to take place on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undercard starts at 6 pm UK time, while Fury and Ngannou are expected to make their ring walks at 10:40 pm UK time. 

Our job is to preview the latest Fury vs Ngannou odds and provide some realistic betting tips. In that vein, we can’t pretend MMA star Francis Ngannou has anything other than a puncher’s chance against a generational great. However, as you’ll soon discover, there is plenty of hidden value in the Fury vs Ngannou betting markets.

Current Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou odds

What are the latest odds for Fury vs Ngannou? We scoured the best UK online betting sites for this weekend’s boxing odds and found the following lines:

• Tyson Fury to win at 1/14 with Parimatch
• Francis Ngannou to win at 17/2 with BetUK
• Draw at 50/1 with BetZone

Fury's last fights

He might be a divisive figure outside of the boxing ring, but virtually no one can argue that Tyson Fury isn’t a perfect pugilist. He’s perfect in the sense he’s never lost. He’s perfect in the sense his style is elusive enough and he almost never gets hit with a clean punch. He’s perfect because, despite his 6′ 9″ frame, he moves like a middleweight.

These qualities have ensured Fury will go down as one of the best heavyweights in history. Whether he’s the GOAT is a matter of debate, but his record, so far, is impeccable. The Brit’s last outing was a dominant TKO win over Derek Chisora. Before that, Dillion White was pummelled into submission. Similarly, and most spectacularly, Deontay Wilder was sent to the canvas multiple times across multiple fights against Fury. 

Ngannou’s MMA career and boxing debut

Francis Ngannou is, by MMA standards, a devastating striker. Despite his relative lack of experience, the Cameroonian quickly rose through the ranks to become UFC heavyweight champion. Along the way, he delivered some of the most vicious knockouts the sport has ever seen. Perhaps the most brutal was the uppercut that snapped Alister Overeem’s head so far back that he almost fell into a different dimension.

We haven’t seen Ngannou in the cage since his unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane in 2022. That victory saw The Predator retain his UFC title, but his time in the Octagon came to an end soon after. Sensing bigger opportunities elsewhere, Ngannou didn’t renew his contract with the UFC and went into free agency. He subsequently signed for rival MMA organisation, the PFL. The PFL gave Ngannou the freedom to explore his options in boxing and, now, he’s facing the WBC heavyweight champion in his first professional boxing match. 

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou betting tips and odds

The odds on Fury beating Ngannou are so short they’re almost not worth talking about. The best price we’ve found at the top UK online sportsbooks for Fury to win is 1/14 at Parimatch. A £10 bet on that would get you a whopping 71p profit if Fury wins. Of course, profit is profit, and the formbook suggests Fury is the rightful favourite. However, if you want to eke out some more value in what’s likely to be a one-sided fight, here are some Fury vs Ngannou bets to consider: 

Tyson Fury to win in round 7 – 10/1 at Sky Bet

Tyson Fury isn’t known for his one-punch knockout power. That’s not to say he couldn’t turn off Ngannou’s lights with one punch, but his record shows that he’s more likely to systematically break down his opponent. We’ve seen in previous fights that Fury likes to outwork people early, use his size to lean on them and then turn the screw in later rounds. 

Ngannou will be fit and strong. He’s also used to fighting with smaller gloves, so the chances are his chin will hold up for a while. But, once fatigue kicks in and Fury ups the pace, a knockout is almost inevitable. If we also factor in the idea that Fury might want to give fans something to watch, he might take his time before dispatching with Ngannou. Based on this, 11/1 for a KO or TKO in round 7 could be a good bet.   

Fury to win in round 3 and Ngannou to be knocked down in round 2 – 8/1 at BetVictor

The bookmakers at BetVictor have done a good job of putting together combo bets so you can get more value from the fight. The one wager that stands out most for us is the round 2 knockdown + Fury win in round 3. There’s every chance Fury will want to make a statement, not only for himself but for his sport in the boxing vs MMA debate. 

If that’s the case, he may pour on the pressure early. That could cause him to clip Ngannou in the opening rounds and finish the job quickly. This, of course, is a long shot based on the sequence of events that have to occur, but it’s certainly not impossible. Indeed, we know Fury has an undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk lined up. He won’t want to jeopardise that by playing with Ngannou for too long and risking an injury, which is why he might try to get it done quickly. 

Francis Ngannou to win by KO/TKO/DQ – 10/1 at BetUK

The phrase puncher’s chance is used all too often in boxing matches where one fighter is the heavy favourite, but it’s really the only way to describe Fury vs Ngannou. We’re not trying to diminish Ngannou’s skills as a fighter. If the Queensbury rules were stripped away, the outcome of this fight would be very different. However, with only his jabs, hooks, uppercuts and straights to work with, Ngannou’s chances are severely limited. 

He’s never boxed professionally, which doesn’t mean he won’t be good. But, when you’re taking on one of the best ever, it’s a tall order. Therefore, if the MMA fighter is going to triumph in the ring, he needs a punch from the gods. Fortunately for Ngannou, he does have superhuman power. In fact, he’s got one of the hardest punches ever recorded. The only problem for Ngannou is that Deontay Wilder, arguably boxing’s hardest puncher, couldn’t keep Fury down. 

How to bet on Fury vs Ngannou 

You can find the latest Fury vs Ngannou bets by following the steps below to join the best UK online sportsbooks:

1. Read our reviews of online boxing bookmakers. 
2. Choose a bookie you like. 
3. Tap the sign-up link to start the registration process and claim an exclusive bonus. 
4. Verify your new account. 
5. Log into your account and make a deposit. 
6. Tap “boxing” on the betting menu. 
7. Find the Fury vs Ngannou odds.
8. Tap the odds next to a bet you want to make. 

Why is Tyson Fury the favourite to win?

Tyson Fury is the favourite to beat Francis Ngannou on October 28 for one simple reason: he’s a professional boxer and his opponent has never had a professional boxing match. Were Fury not considered a generational great, it might not be so cut and dry. There are probably a lot of low-level heavyweight boxers Ngannou could beat, but Fury isn’t a journeyman. He’s never lost. He’s a champion, and many pundits rank him among the best to ever do it. 

What’s the weight category for the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou fight?

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will step into the ring on October 28 at the heavyweight limit of over 200 lbs (14.4 stone). Fury weighed in for his last fight against Derek Chisora at 277 lbs (19.7 stone), so expect him to be around that mark this weekend. Francis Ngannou is used to fighting at 265 lbs (18.9 stone) but, now he’s free from MMA’s weight category limits, he’s planning to fight Fury around the 270 lbs (19.3 stone) mark. 

How many professional matches Tyson Fury has compared to Francis Ngannou?

Fury has 34 professional matches, with a record of 33 wins (24 by KO/TKO) and a draw. Although the majority of pundits believe Fury beat Deontay Wilder in 2018, it was declared a draw. Regardless of that slight blemish, Fury still has a perfect record in the ring. 

In contrast, Ngannou has a record of 0-0 in boxing. He’s never competed under the mark of the Queensbury, but he’s certainly not a combat sports novice. As well as kickboxing bouts, Ngannou has 20 MMA fights, with a record of 17 wins (12 by KO) and 3 losses. 

What’s on the line if Francis Ngannou wins?

Tyson Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion, but his title won’t be on the line against Ngannou. However, to generate some more interest in the fight, they will be competing for the title of “baddest man on the planet”. That metaphorical title will be accompanied by the Riyadh championship belt. Sanctioned by the WBC but not an official title, the belt is named after the event’s backer and host, the Riyadh government. 

Are there any undercard fights I should pay attention to?

Yes, there are plenty of intriguing undercard fights on the Fury vs Ngannou card. In fact, almost all of the fights taking place before the October 28 main event should be more competitive. The Fury versus Ngannou undercard is:

• Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (British heavyweight title fight)
• Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight)
• Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright (heavyweight)
• Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight)
• Carlos Takam vs Martin Bakole (heavyweight)
• Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran Galvan (super welterweight)

Of the fights listed above, Takam vs Bakole stands out. Bakole is considered a rising star on the heavyweight scene, but he struggles to get fights. A strong performance against an ageing Takam would thrust him into the limelight and, potentially, get him some big fights against the likes of Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois, or Jared Anderson. 

Perhaps the best fight of the entire card is Wardley vs Adeleye. The two British prospects both have perfect records, but Wardley has fought at a higher level. Adeleye is no slouch though. He’s a deadly puncher, with 11 of his 12 wins coming via KO/TKO. Add to this a pre-fight bust-up between the two and Wardley vs Adeleye has got barnburner written all over it. 

Where can I watch the Fury vs Ngannou fight?

You can watch the fight live on TNT Sports Box Office for £21.95. The event starts at 6 pm UK time, and the first bell for Fury vs Ngannou is expected to ring at 11 pm UK time.

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